After striking up a chance conversation with Mark Wahlberg about his aspirations to become an actor, a father has transformed his life and overcome his addiction to drugs and alcohol. He is currently filming his first Hollywood picture.
Jamie Humphrey, 34, is an actor who films his first film in Los Angeles earlier this month. He works as a binman in between acting gigs and dreams of becoming a big star in Hollywood.
Jamie, a father of five, battled depression and alcoholism in the past. However, while working as a security guard on a movie set, he happened to meet Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg, who inspired him to pursue his dreams. This encounter “flipped a light switch” in Jamie’s mind.
Jamie is currently a regular movie auditioner. He appeared as an extra with Samuel L Jackson in the Marvel Studios TV miniseries Secret Invasion before being cast in the lead in Ready to Kill, his first independent Hollywood film.
Jamie shot his scenes for the independent film, which is being directed by Shannon Farrow, the head of ING Films, at the beginning of November.
With his five children and his 29-year-old wife Lisa, a stay-at-home mom, Jamie, who resides in Sittingbourne, Kent, told PA Real Life, “I’ve come far since speaking to Mark Wahlberg.”
“I admit that before that, I was at the lowest point of my mental health. I turned to drugs and alcohol because I didn’t know how to get out of the bad situation I was in.
“My father has always been my staunchest ally and covered the cost of my train ticket for my very first extra role.
We were so close, so losing him in 2020 was heartbreaking, but I was resolved to keep pursuing him.
“It was a huge milestone to film my first Hollywood picture, and now I want to make my family proud.”
After meeting the director online, Jamie traveled to Los Angeles on November 8 to film his portion of his first Hollywood film, Ready to Kill.
“I met the filmmaker on Facebook. He had written a film called Ready to Kill and had been following me for a while,” he said.
“He asked me to be in it, and I said I’d love to come out and film it. Then, before I knew it, I was in Los Angeles, playing the lead part.”
Jamie completed filming his parts in five days, and the independent film was captured by a single man using a camera.
He said, “I play a man who wants revenge on the people who kidnapped his date after she gets abducted.”
It was enjoyable since I could alter many aspects of my character to better fit my acting style and had a lot of control over who I was.
“The movie didn’t have a large budget, but since I’m doing what I love, I’m already living the dream.
“It was great to speak with Samuel L. Jackson on set,” Jamie remarked. I was a part of such a large production as a Russian extra in one of the scenes, and it was really exciting.
While Jamie occasionally receives payment for the roles he accepts, other times his only expenses are for travel and lodging; nevertheless, he described those positions as “stepping stones” as he developed his craft.
“I just go out there and film because I love it,” he declared. “I do acting because I love it.” I refuse to return to my addiction or anything similar.
“I simply have to keep creating.”
He stopped and inquired about me and my aspirations. I told him that I wanted to be like him and earn as much money as he did, and that I had always wanted to be an actor.
“Well, what are you doing standing here?” he asked me.
It appeared as though a light switch had been turned on. All of a sudden, something ignited. I started searching for small parts or extra acting roles that I could try out for.
Although Jamie’s father, Kevin, 59, passed away in December 2020 from complications related to COVID-19, he acknowledged that his loss still affects him and that he is now concentrating on his new career and maintaining sobriety in memory of his father.
